US20110000151A1

US20110000151A1 - Support rail

Info

Publication number: US20110000151A1
Application number: US12/777,381
Authority: US
Inventors: Erwin Hochreiter; Antonio Gamero; Günter Koschier; Heinz Rankl
Original assignee: Greenonetec Solarindustrie GmbH
Current assignee: Greenonetec Solarindustrie GmbH
Priority date: 2009-07-01
Filing date: 2010-05-11
Publication date: 2011-01-06
Also published as: EP2270403B1; EP2270403A1; PT2270403E; ATE554352T1; ES2383261T3

Abstract

The invention pertains to a support rail for a solar collector, i.e., a rail for accommodating and mounting a solar collector.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention may form part of a complex installation and mounting system for solar collectors (particularly hot water and photovoltaic collectors) that are installed, for example, on a roof, in a roof, on or in a building facade.
The aforementioned collectors frequently feature a flat cuboid housing with dimensions (width, length, height) of about 100×200×10 cm. They are known as so-called frame collectors or tray collectors.
Mounting systems known so far are largely rigid and cannot make allowances for local constructive standards. Consequently, collectors are frequently mounted in an askew and optically insufficient fashion. The collector may slide down on corresponding mounting rails before it can be located in the desired end position and fixed, particularly when mounting collectors on an inclined surface.
The object of the invention in this respect consists of making available a support rail for a solar collector, wherein the rail allows the simple installation of a mounting means that serves for mounting the collector on the rail. The rail furthermore should allow a simple and safe positioning of the collector during the installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain this object, the invention proposes a support rail that comprises three sections. A first section serves for accommodating a first mounting means that is inserted between the rail and the collector in order to mount the collector on the rail.
A second section of the rail is intended for directly or indirectly mounting the rail itself on a corresponding supporting surface such as a roof or a facade.
The third section serves for already adjusting the collector in a safe and defined fashion during the installation on the rail, namely without requiring special tools and/or other implements for this purpose.
The first section is realized in such a way that it forms at least one supporting surface for the collector while the third section protrudes in the direction of the collector with respect to this supporting surface. The collector is accordingly realized with a groove-like depression in the bottom region that serves for accommodating the third section such that the collector and the third section of the support rail are interlocked during the installation. Due to this measure, the collector can no longer slide down on the rail during the installation phase, wherein this is particularly important with respect to the installation on inclined surfaces.
In its most general embodiment, the invention pertains to a support rail for a solar collector with the following characteristics:
a first section with an essentially U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a base and two limbs [arms] protruding from the base,
end sections of the two limbs extend inward in alignment with one another and toward one another such that a slot-shaped opening for accommodating and fixing a first mounting means is formed between the end sections,
a second section for accommodating and fixing a second mounting means,
at least one third section adjacent to an end section of one limb, wherein the third section at least in part protrudes in a direction that points away from the first section with respect to a plane defined by the outer surfaces of the aligned end sections of the limbs.
The following applies with respect to the first section:
This section forms a receptacle for a first mounting means. Several mounting means can be arranged at different positions along one or more rails in order to fix one or more collectors. The mounting means can be inserted into the U-profile through the opening between the end sections of the limbs. The mounting means is subsequently turned, for example, by 90°. For this purpose, the section of the mounting means inserted into the U-profile has a shape with a narrow side and a broad side, wherein the broad side is wider than the slot-shaped opening. This makes it possible to guide the mounting means against the end sections of the limbs of the first section of the rail with the section inserted into the U-profile and to fix the mounting means at this location. In this case, the end sections of the limbs of the first section of the support rail act as a stop and a counter-bearing for the mounting means that is mounted on the collector on its opposite end. The collector is braced with respect to the support rail in this fashion and fixed in the desired position. Due to the aligned orientation of the end sections of the limbs of the first section of the support rail, a supporting surface for the bottom of the collector is simultaneously created.
At the same time, the third section of the support rail is interlocked with a corresponding groove in the bottom of the collector in the above-described fashion. In this case, the third section essentially extends parallel to the rail. In a conventional installation, the groove arranged in the collector consequently extends essentially perpendicular to the parallel longitudinal sides of the collector.
If so desired, corresponding third sections (interlocking elements) may also be provided adjacent to both end sections of the limbs of the first section of the support rail. In this case, the collector needs to feature at least two of the aforementioned grooves, into which the third sections of the support rail can engage.
The third section extends, for example, perpendicular to the end sections of the limbs and accordingly perpendicular to the base of the aforementioned U-profile of the first section. The third section may have the shape of a bar at least in its part that points away from the first section. Alternatively, the third section may have a cross section at its interlocking part that corresponds to a right-angled trapezoid. The inclined surface of the trapezoid simplifies the engagement into the corresponding groove of the collector while the opposite surface section of the trapezoid allows a safe contact on a corresponding stopping face in the groove of the collector.
According to one embodiment, the limbs of the first section of the support rail extend perpendicular to the base and parallel to one another (with the exception of the end sections). These end sections preferably extend parallel to the base in order to define the desired joint support for the collector.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the end sections are realized with right-angle bends extending in the direction of the base of the U-profile on their free ends, i.e., adjacent to the slot-shaped opening. These right-angle bends form an additional interlocking option for the mounting means in order to securely fix this mounting means on the rail.
The second section may also have an essentially U-shaped cross-sectional profile, i.e., with a base and two limbs that protrude from the base.
The design of the support rail is simplified if the limbs of the second U-shaped section extend perpendicular to the limbs of the first U-shaped section. This makes it possible to insert a second mounting means into the second section laterally, i.e., parallel to the base of the first section, and to fix this second mounting means at this location.
In this case, the design of the rail is additionally simplified if one limb of the second U-shaped section is formed by the base of the first U-shaped section. This embodiment is discussed in greater detail in the following description of the figures.
The limbs of the second U-shaped section may feature a fluting on the inner side. This fluting makes it possible to fix the second mounting means on this second section of the rail, for example, with the aid of a screw, wherein the thread of the screw engages into the aforementioned fluting.
In an embodiment, in which a fluting is provided on the outer side of one limb of the first U-shaped section, namely the limb that is situated adjacent to the second section of the support rail, it is also possible to fix the second mounting means in different positions relative to the first section of the support rail. Tolerances can be very easily compensated in this fashion during the installation.
The at least three sections of the support rail may be discrete sections that are connected to one another (interconnected). However, it is preferred to realize an embodiment, in which the first, second and third sections are integrally connected to one another, wherein this embodiment may be realized, for example, by extrusion-moulding the support rail. This applies to a support rail of metal, as well as to a support rail of plastic.
Other characteristics of the invention result from the characteristics of the dependent claims and the other application documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to one exemplary embodiment. In the respective schematic drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of an inventive support rail in cooperation with a first and a second mounting means and a corresponding collector; and

FIG. 2 shows a side view of another embodiment of the support rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the figures, identical components or components that fulfill the same function are identified by the same reference symbols. Positional information such as “top, bottom, left, right” refers to the illustrated installation position of the support rail.
The support rail according to FIG. 1 comprises a first section 10 that has an essentially U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a base 12 and two limbs 14, 16 that protrude from the base 12. End sections 14 e, 16 e of the two limbs 14, 16 extend inward in alignment with one another and toward one another, wherein said end sections feature snap tabs 14 r, 16 r that extend downward (in the direction of the base 12) on their ends. A slot-shaped opening 18 that serves for accommodating and fixing a first mounting means 30 is formed between the end sections 14 e, 16 e. The end sections 14 e, 16 e extend in alignment with one another. Their outer surfaces 14 a, 16 a accordingly extend in a plane E, on which a collector 40 lies with its bottom 42.
In order to install the mounting means 30, it is inserted with its lower part, into the cuboid space of the first section 10 through the opening 18 then turned by 90° into the position shown and subsequently moved upward (which is not shown here) until lateral wings 32 of the mounting means 30 engage behind the snap rails 14 r, 16 r. The collector 40 is simultaneously fixed on the opposite end of the mounting means 30 such that the collector 40 consequently is positioned and fixed on the rail by the mounting means 30. An analogous mounting with additional mounting means is carried out at another location of the rail.
The third section 20 illustrated to the right of the first section 10 is realized in the form of a hollow profile with rectangular cross section, wherein an upper cross arm 22 extends in alignment with the end sections 14 e, 16 e and in extension of the end section 16 e. A bar 24 protrudes perpendicularly upward from the cross arm 22 and engages into a corresponding groove 44 in the bottom 42 of the collector 40 in order to secure the collector from sliding on the rail.
A section of the base 12 of the first section 10 (on the left in FIG. 1) simultaneously forms a limb 52 of the second section 50 of the support rail, wherein the second section 50 also has an essentially U-shaped cross-sectional profile, and wherein the base is identified by the reference symbol 54 and extends perpendicular to the base 12 of the first section 10 while the other limb is identified by the reference symbol 56.
The inner side of both limbs 52, 56 features a fluting 58. This fluting 58 serves for fixing a threaded screw 60, with the aid of which a second mounting means 62 is fixed on the support rail as shown in FIG. 1, wherein this second mounting means 62 is mounted on the opposite end, for example, on a roof surface.
The second mounting means 62 is provided with a fluting 64 on its surface that faces the support rail, wherein this fluting cooperates with a corresponding fluting 14 k on the outer side of the limb 14 of the first section 10. According to the figure, the flutings 64, 14 k make it possible to fix the second mounting means 62 at different heights relative to support rail.
Respective profile sections 70, 72 underneath the first section 10 and underneath the third section 20 complete the support rail such that an overall cross section of essentially rectangular shape is achieved.
The embodiment according to FIG. 2 essentially can be distinguished from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that no discrete bar 24 is provided, wherein this interlocking element is instead directly formed by the third section 20 and the bar 24 has an approximately rectangular cross-sectional profile. Instead of the rectangular profile, it would also be possible to choose a right-angled trapezoid profile. In this embodiment, the bar 24 also serves for engaging into a corresponding groove 44 of the collector in order to secure this collector from sliding relative to the support rail.
Consequently, the corresponding collector needs to be constructively adapted to the inventive support rail, namely by providing at least one groove, preferably several grooves, in the bottom region in order to respectively accommodate the third section of the support rail or the bar (web) 24 formed by this section. It is preferred that these grooves 44 respectively extend parallel and perpendicular to the lateral surfaces of the collector 40. They may be distributed regularly or irregularly over the bottom 42 of the collector 40. The grooves/beads 44 provide the additional advantage of reinforcing the collector bottom 42.

Claims

1. A support rail for a solar collector with the following characteristics:

1.1 first section with an essentially U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a base and two limbs protruding from the base,

1.2 end sections of the two limbs extend inward in alignment with one another and toward one another such that a slot-shaped opening for accommodating and fixing a first mounting means is formed between the end sections,

1.3 a second section for accommodating and fixing a second mounting means,

1.4 at least one third section adjacent to an end section of one limb, wherein the third section at least in part protrudes in a direction that points away from the first section with respect to a plane (E) defined by the outer surfaces of the aligned end sections of the limbs.

2. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the limbs of the first section perpendicularly protrude from the base and extend parallel to one another with the exception of their end sections.

3. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the end sections of the limbs extend parallel to the base.

4. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the end sections feature right-angle bends extending in the direction of the base on their free ends that laterally define the slot-shaped opening.

5. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the second section has an essentially U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a base and two limbs that protrude from the base.

6. The support rail according to claim 5, wherein the limbs of the second U-shaped section extend perpendicular to the limbs of the first U-shaped section.

7. The support rail according to claim 5, wherein one limb of the second U-shaped section is formed by the base of the first U-shaped section.

8. The support rail according to claim 5, wherein the inner side of the limbs of the second U-shaped section features a fluting.

9. The support rail according to claim 5, wherein the outer side of one limb of the first U-shaped section features a fluting.

10. The support rail according to claim 1, the third section of which at least in part extends perpendicular to the end sections of the limbs of the first section.

11. The support rail according to claim 1, the third section of which has the shape of a web at least in its part that points away from the first section.

12. The support rail according to claim 1, the third section of which has a cross section that corresponds to a right-angled trapezoid at least in its part that points away from the first section.

13. The support rail according to claim 1, the first, second and third sections of which are integrally connected to one another.

14. The support rail according to claim 1 realized in the form of an extrusion-moulded part of metal or plastic.